Job, Explained

Lots of news since I last "blogged"! Firstly, I've got myself a second job!! Perhaps I should explain that most foreign teachers here keep a main job (usually in the cram schools - after-Chinese-school - a.k.a. "bushibans") that gives them National Health Insurance and an ARC (Alien Resident Card). This ARC is very important, if you don't have one, you cannot get a working visa and thus, you must leave the country every 60 days and re-enter on a visitor's visa each time.

Aside from their main job, most teachers acquire 1 or 2 different jobs on the side that the government doesn't know about. These are the real money-makers (because you don't pay tax). Because they are more risky, you usually make quite a bit more at these jobs. My second job is at this really awesome Kindergarten, just a 5-minute bus ride away from my apartment. I work here 9am-11:30am Mon-Fri and then at the bushiban any time between 2pm and 9pm Mon-Fri and always 9am-12pm on Saturdays. I learned that my second job is less risky than most because they pay the government under the table to always alert the school before they come to visit (haha, things work very differently here). Thus, I do not work tomorrow because the government is coming.

The picture in this post is of this beautiful river/park that I found close to my second job. It is a beautiful area. There were many groups of people in the park this morning practicing tai chi, dance, exercising, etc... I believe this is my new favourite place. I cannot wait to get into the mountains!!

I got a cell phone number! Please email me if you would like to have it. If you are up for paying the international calling fee, I get free incoming from whereever! Please keep in mind the 12 hour time difference :) Also, an English address is on it's way for everyone who has asked to write me a letter. I need to ask a Chinese friend to translate it from our lease, not everyone can be trusted to do this. Even if they don't know how, they will do it wrong just to "save face". Kate and I are slowly learning about how the Chinese "save face" and how annoying it can be for people like us that want a real answer! I especially learned this lesson after asking directions to the hospital yesterday and being sent on a 1/2 hr detour! Now, I just follow my instinct and internal compass!